Method of packing and preserving plug-tobacco



- 1. PETERSON. METHOD OF PACKING AND PRESERVING PLUG TOBACCO.

APPLlCATlON FILED APR. 11' 1921.

1 ,398,568. Patented Nov. 29, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- 7% W J MW,

TORNEYS J. PETERSON.

METHOD OF PACKING AND PRESERVING PLUG TOBACCO.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1 I. 1921.

1 ,398, 5 68 Patented Nov. 29, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- ATTOR NEYS UNITED STATE JONATHAN rn'rnnsomor BItoonLYN, NEW Yong, 'ASSIGNOR T0 COMBINATION i MACHINE COMPANY, or NEwYonK, 1v. Y, A oonronA'rron or E AR METHOD orfrnoxnve AND PREsnRvINe PLUG-TOBACCO;

new and useful Improvements in Methods of Packing and Preserving PlugeTiobacco, of

which the following isa specification. v

This invention relates to a methodof pack-.

and p serving tobacco. plugs or cakes and to the plug packageresulting therefrom,

' V and relates more particularly to a method and article of the nature referred; to in which a package containing a plurality of tobacco plugs or cakes isputzup in relatively small units and in which the plugsare preserved for an indefinite time in their, original condition as regards moisture content, flavor and other characteristics; and has special reference to the provision of such a package especially adapted for the retail trade in which each unit plug is kept in preserved 7 condition, such unit being detachable from the package for purposesof sale, thedetach ing of a unit leaving the remaining units in intact and fully preserved condition.

A common method hithertoemployed in packaging tobacco plugs or. cakes has involved the packaging of a large quantity of plugs'in caddies or large cases made of expensive wood stock and especially constructed to preserve the plugs against deterioration from the elements; In order. to .reduce thelcost of packaging per, unit plug it has been the practice to package a large number of plugs in asingle case, some .cad-

dies containing. as. many. asv 48. pounds of tobacco plugs. This procedurehas involved many disadvantages, 'prime among. which has been the inability to successfully cater to the demands of the small retail dealers who find it inconvenient and moreover uneconomical to handle large stocks ofan artis cle for which there may be arelativelv small call, the plugs when kept in 'stockfor some period of time after the case or package is first opened being-subject to relatively rapid deterioration, such. plugs losing their moisture, flavor and other desirable properties and becoming-dry and brittle whenopen to air and atmospheric moisture. APrimedesideratum of my present invention therefore involves the production of a plug package in which a relatively small number of plugs are put up-in packages of,small:capacity such as,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 11,

mutilated form for consuming. use.

dev- 9. 32 1921., Serial no. 460,601. I J

for example, of one or two pounds, the-lcost of the packaging operations beinga negligi EN ICE-g7 bleifactor as regards each"v unit plug, the

plugs-being, furthermoreppackaged so that each plug is. kept in-a preserved condition up to-and including the .time of sale to the -con-' sumer, the sale of one. plug not. affecting the packaging-or preservation. of any i of the other plugs in the package. i h

7 Tobacco plugs are usually made 'andfsold in compressed orcompacted.blocks, each unit 1 or block comprising atobacco leaf filler covv eredby aleaf wrapper. Lhave found it deasirable to preserve each block-or'unit by packing such. block or unit in awr'apper being so inclosedby the: wrapper that all air pockets are ironed out" and eliminated, the wrapper beingthen sealed against entry of a1r.=or moisture. A package made, upof a plug provided with an impervious wrapper such as a wrapper having a coating of paraffinor wax the wrapper and plug being compressed or compacted into a unit, thewrapper adhering closely to. the faces of the packet, has been found highlyeflicient for 7 V "impervious to air or moisture, the unit block this purpose. In producing such a package,

however, it is desirable not to injure the tobacco product packaged, as the preservation oftheplug, especially. the preservation of the wrapper leaf in undamaged condition is a factor in keeping the product ina. pre; served'state. Furthermore, it is desired to so inclose the plug that the wrapper willsadhere to theface of the plug without sticking thereto and without. affecting the 0011a sion between the tobacco leaf wrapper and p the filler inclosed thereby, the plug being removable from the wrapper. without the ne'- cessity of having to strip the wrap-per from the unit plug; such aconstruction permitting the obtaining of a plug in undamaged or 3 present invention thereforefurther comprehends the provision of: a plug package in which thewrapper adheringly fits the packaged plug witho'utsticking thereto, the package not onlybeing preserved. aga nst action by the elements, but'being kept; 1n undamaged condition and. being obtainable in a fresh and unmutilated-state when required for consuming use. p I j The principal objects of my ln'vention therefore include, besides the provision of plug pa-ckage a p urality qi separable plugs or cakes, each plug being packed for purposes of preserving the same up to the time of its consumption; the provision of such a package having a small number of plug units in a package especially adapted for the retail. trade; the provision of s eh a package in which each plug unit is preserved independently of the others; a plurality of such unit plugs making up a sealed package, a plug being adapted to be detached and sold without breakingthe seal of the remaining plugs in the unit pack age the further provision of such a package in which each plug is closely'incased by a wrapper, the wrapper closely adhering to the faces of the plug for eliminating air pockets and sealing the plug against entry of air or moisture, the tight wrapper not affecting the integrity of the packaged plug commodity and the provision of such a package in which the units be assembled and packed by simple manufacturing steps, the cost ofpackaging being a negligible component of the cost of the packaged commodity. a

To the accomplishment of theforegoing and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the elements and their relation one to'the other, as hereinafter particularly described and sought to be defined in theclaims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings which show a preferred embodiment of my invention and in which: I

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the manner of assembling the plugs to form an integral plug package,

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the same,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a completed plug package as it appears after the compacting operation, with parts broken away to show the interior package lamina-- tions,

Fig. 4: is a perspective view of the package inclosed in an outer enveloping wrapper,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the manner of detaching a plug from the assembled formation, and

6 is a view of the completed package with an outer carton covering the enveloping wrapper. I

In the drawings my invention is shown applied to the packaging of tobacco plugs compressed or compacted in rectangular block formation, but it will be understood that I do not intend to limit my invention to the packaging of such a product, as my invention is of broader utility and may be used for the preservation and packaging of other products or commodities where similar problems are involved. ,My inven tion contemplates primarily the assembling of a plurality of unit plugs to make up'an integral package of relatively small capacs ity, such as a one or two pound package, for example, each plug unitretainingits identity in the integral package, each plug being retained in a fully preserved state up to the time of its use, each'such unit plug being detachable or removable from the package when desired for sale or use, removal of such plug having no effect on the packaging or preservation of the remaining plugs in the package. To this end I arrange a plurality or series of tobacco plugs or cakes in alternation with a plurality of wrappers therefor, wrapper being-pro vided" for each plug, the wrappers having marginal portions overlying theside walls of the plugs, the whole when assembled and packed forming a laminated package This method of assembly is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the resulting integral package being depicted in Fig. 3. A plurality of series of plug layers such 'as 10' each comprising acompressed plug having the usual tobacco leaf 11 covered by the tobacco leaf wrapper 12 are assembled in alternation with a plurality or series of layers of wrappers 13, each wrapper 13 being provided with marginal portions or laps 14.

of a width suilicient to overlie the side walls of the plugs and to overlie the marginal portions of one .or more adjacent wrappers for a purpose that will appear presently.

For the purpose of facilitating assembly of the plug units, which may be carried out by hand, I prefer to perform or prefold each end and side'laps 1 1- are provided, this at fording a properly centered plug in a wrapper, the bottom of each dished wrapper having a configuration and area equal to that of a bottom face of a plug so that when the laps are folded and pressed against side walls of the plugs the wrappers will fittingly envelop the plug faces. 'The alternate wrappers and plugs are assembled in nested relation, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, until a one ortwopound package is formed as is desired, the assembly being then ready'for subsequent compacting and packing operations;

It is desired to provide a package wherein each of the plugs may be rotected against the. elements for an indefinite time to preserve the desirable properties of the product, such as its moisture content, flavor, pliability and other characteristics, and to this end I provide wrappers having an impervious coating such'as of wax or parait'in, each of the plugs being hermetically sealed by such impervious wrappers. Accordingly, I provide each of the wrappers-13 with an impervious coatingofwax orparaf fin, such as shown at 16.

' After the assembly shown in Figs. 1 and- 2 is formed, the assembled formation is com pressed or compacted into an integral package in such manner that all interior. air

pockets are eliminated, the bottom face; of each plug, beingcompressed in intimatev and adhering contact with the interior facecofz each wrapper bottom, the wrapper laps .be-

ing compressed against the side walls of the plugs in like intimate contact. It is desired, however, that each wrapper so inclose the plug that although thewrapper. faces adheringly envelop theplug faces, that'such;

wrapper faces do not stick-to the'plug;

to prevent free removal of the plug; from its wrapper when the plug'isrequiredfor use, it being further required that the useof;

an impervious wrapper otherwise have no deleterious effect on the packaged plug, and that such plug be obtainable when'desired for consumption in whole and undamaged state. To this end the wrapper isproa' vided with a single coating 16 of wax or parafiin, such coatingbeing provided on the, outer faces or walls only of each dish wshaped wrapper, as clearly showng'in the.

drawings.

In order to prevent the wax or paraffin:

coated outer faces of a wrapper bottom; from sticking to the top face of anadjacent plug unit, I preferably interpose a separating blank or sheet between a plug of one unit and the wrapper of the next adjacent unit,v

such a sheet being shown as 17 inthe figures. My assembly therefore preferably consists in first selecting a dished wrapper 13 inserting therein a cake orplug 10and placing on the plug a separating blank or sheet.

17 and repeating this cycle or process until a one or two pound assembly results,the

assembled formationbeing then ready for the compacting or compressing operation.

As hereinbeforereferred to the plug as-.

,sembly is compacted-or compressed by suit able apparatusand preferably under. application of heat, tothe end that substantially all the interior air pockets-be ironed out or eliminated, the bottom and top plug faces of each plug being adheringly covered by a wrapper face anda separating blank respectively, the top face of the uppermost plug being preferably protectively enclosed by theblank 18, shown in 'Fig. 3 of: thedrawings, the said blank having an impervious coating on the outside facethereof. The wrapper laps 14 and folds 15 are; compressed into overlapping and.overlyingarelation, as-

clearly shown in Fig.3 of the drawings,

these laps being preferably ofa widthtwo.

or more times the: thickness of a. plug; or

cake, so that a multiply; covering fOIZthQ" side walls of each cake isprovided. Such a multiply coveringaifords increased protection to theplug, especially at the cut faces thereof where evaporation of the juices more 1 rapidly takes place. By the compressing operation, which is preferably carried on under application of heat, the overlying mation shownin Fig.- 3is obtained, I con i template enveloping the assembly in wrapping and carton means to make up a finished packetv which may be handled as such by the trade. Tothis endI first envelop the compressed assembly in an; enveloping wrap per 20, as; shown in. Figs. 4 and 6 of the drawably provided to close the overlapping wrapper folds, the band orstrip 22 being prefer- I ably arranged; longitudinally of the packet to aid in maintaining the packet into anintegral'unit; V I I V As hereinbefore referred to, the elimination of air spacesand pockets in the plug The package as a. whole forms ings, adhesive bands 21 and22 being prefer package has been found to be one of the conditions precedent; necessary to the obtaining of a package in which the plugs are kept in a. fully preserved state. It oft-times occurs that the side walls of the wrapper packet shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, instead of presenting flat faces, present irregular faces. VVith such lrregular faces or-walls the 1ncloslng of a packet in an outer carton, which is usually made of paper board, results in the formationofair-spaces and pockets ,between the carton walls andthe packet walls. I have found it desirable .to provide a con struction which will minimize or eliminate suclrair spaces andpockets. To accomplish this end I have found it desirable to usea compressible board for the carton base and to compress such board againstthe walls of thejpacket, the carton board accommodating itself to the irregularities of thepacket I faces. Accordin 'l I orovide a carton made c: l preferably of corrugated board, as shown at 23 in Fig; 6, the said board comprising-outer p and inner layers 24 and 25 respectively, and 1 an intermediate layer 26 of sinuous configuration providing air flutes, the whole forminga yieldable: carton which may bev com:

pressed against thepacket sidewalls, the in-.

nercarton layer 25 following the irregularities of the-packet walls, thus eliminating the air; pockets. between the carton; and such walls. heouter carton 281s alsopreferprovided.

ably provided with an adhesive band or strip 27 closing the carton folds, a com pletec tact package being in this manner The manner of assembly and packing my plug package will be apparent from the above detailed description thereof. The finished integral plug package is sold to the retail trade in the form shown in'Fig. 6 in small units of, for example, one or two pounds. When a plug is desired for sale or consumptionthe outer carton 23 and the enveloping wrapper 20 are removed, present ing a package as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The bottom plug is then removed .in a manner illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings, the skirt provided by the wrapper laps of the top wrapper being pried loose from the other wrapper laps, the bottom wrapper and its plug being separated and removed for such sale and use. Only the seal of the bottom wrapper need be broken, the bottom plug being thus removable without affecting the integrity of the remainder of the integral package, the remaining plugs being retained in packaged and sealed condition, each of such remaining plugs being preserved in packaged formation until such plug is in turn required foruse.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that I have provided a plug package especially adapted for the retail trade, eliminating the use of caddies or large containers hitherto employed with the disadvantages consequent thereto, my integral plug package being provided in a simple manner and at a low manufacturing cost, each package being so packed that each plug is preserved against air or moisture, every plug'being so preserved up to the time of sale to the consumer. Although a plurality of plugs are out into a single oacka e to minimize the cost of enveloping and packing and for other reasons, each plug may be detached from the packaged unit without affecting the integrity oi the other plug units for the preservation thereof. packed as to eliminate air pockets, a wrapper closely adhering the plug protectively inclosing and sealing the same, the plural plug formation increasing the protec tion, especially for the intermediate plugs, all securing a compacted plug format-ion eliminating air pockets and sealing the same against moisture or air. Although the wrapper closely adheres to the faces of the plug, the adhesion is such that no sticking between the pin faces and the wrapper faces results. In this way each plug is kept in undamaged or unmutilated state and may be removed from the wrapper in such condition for use. For the purpose of facilitating packing, thewrappers are preformed and are made dish-shaped, this also provid ing a wrapper the laps of which are sure Each plug is so I to overlie all the side walls of the plugs, the

cent laps provide amultiply coveringfor the side walls of the plugs, preventing evaporation of any of the uices having free access at the side walls and preventing absorption of moisture at these parts. All the wrapper joints are welded, this being secured by the compacting and compressing operations preferably under application of heat, all theplugs making up the compacted integral package. Such package is, furthermore, wrapped in an outer wrapper and inclosed in a compressible or corrugated board carton, such carton accommodating itself to the irregular facesof the plug package for the purpose of eliminating air spaces between the carton faces. and the faces of the plug package. A

It will be understood that while I have shown my plug package as comprising imperviouswrappers such as wax or paraffin coated wrapers, I do not'intend to limit my invention to the use of such wrappers, it being apparent that I may use with equal facility other types of wrappers such as, for example, foil wrappers and more particularly'tin or lead foil, especiallysuch foil wrappers which can be fused to provide imperviously sealed joints.

lVhile I have shown my device in the preferred form, it will be obvious that other- I claim l. A package of plug tobacco comprising a plurality of layers of tobacco plugs or cakes alternating with a plurality of layers of wrappers therefor; the wrappers being provided with marginal portions forming laps overlying the sides of the plugs, the wholebein'g compressed into a substantially solid block forming a laminated package.

2. Apackage of plug tobacco comprising a plurality of layers of tobacco plugs or cakes alternating with a plurality of layers of wrappers therefor; the wrappers being provided with marginal portions forming laps overlying the sides of the plugs, the

marginal laps of a wrapper being arranged I to overlap the marginal laps of the next adjacent wrapper,the construction providing a multiply lap formation overlying the side-walls of the plugs, the whole being compressed into a substantially solid block forming a laminated package.

'3. A package of plug tobacco comprising a plurality of layers of tobacco plugs or cakes alternating with a plurality of layers ofimpervious wrapper sheets therefor; the

wrapper sheets being folded 'to provide 139 of impervious Wrappers therefor; the Wrappers being provided with marginal portions forming laps overlying the sides of the plugs, the marginal laps of a wrapper being arranged to overlap-the marginal'laps of the next adjacent wrapper, the joints be-' -tween the laps being hermetically sealed;

the construction providing a multiply'lap formation overlying the sides of the plugs, the whole forming a laminated package. I j

5. A package-of plug tobacco comprising a plurality of layers of tobacco plugs or cakes alternating with apluralitv of layers or" para'ffin'or waxcoated Wrappers therefor; the wrappers being provided with marginal portions forminglaps overlying the sides of the plugs, the joints between laps of ad jacent wrappers being hermetically Wax welded, the whole being compressed and forming a substantially solid. laminated package.

6. A package ofplug tobacco comprising a plurality of nested dish shaped wrapper sheets alternating with a plurality of layers of tobacco plugs or cakes, each wrapper sheet adheringly inclosing a tobacco plug; a plug and its wrapper sheet forming a detachable unit, the side walls or lapsof the wrapper sheet being arranged in relative overlapping relationship, the whole forming a compacted laminated package.

7. A package of plug tobacco comprising a plurality of nested dish shaped wrappers or containers alternating with a plurality of layers of tobacco plugs or cakes, each wrapper being provided with acoating of. paraffin or wax on the outer walls'thereof, each wrapper adheringly inclosing a tobacco plug; a plug and its wrapper forming a detachable unit; the side walls or laps of the wrapper being arranged in relative overlapping relationship, the joints between the overlapping wrapper walls being wax welded, the whole forming a laminated package.

8. A package of plug tobacco comprising a plurality of nested dish shaped wrappers or containers alternating with a plurality of layers of tobacco plugs or cakes, each wrapper adheringly. inclosing a tobacco plug; a plug and its wrapper forming a detachable unit, a separating sheet between a plug of one unit and a wrapper of the next adjacent unit, the side walls or laps of the or containers alternating with a .plurality :of' layers of tobacco plugs or cakes each wrapperbeing provided witha coating ofparaiiin oravair on' the outer Walls thereof, each wrapper adheringly inclosing a tobacco plug a plugand its wrapper forming a detachable unit, a separating sheet between a plug of one unit and'awrapper of the next adjacent unit; said walls or laps of the wrap.- per being-arranged in'relative overlapping relationship, the joints between the overlapping .wrapper Walls being wax welded, the whole. forming a laminated package.

10. A: package'ofplug tobacco comprising a plurality of layers oftobacco plugs or cakes alternating with a plurality or" 7 layers of wrappers therefor; the wrappers being provided with marginal, portions forming lapsv overlying the sides of the plugs,,t he whole being compressed into the formof .a substantiall solid laminated block-like'package, an outer wrapper enveloping the package and a carton inclosing the package and the envelopingv wrapper, the carton comprising a compressible board co1n-' pactly inclosing thepackage. 7 11 A'package of plug tobacco comprising. a" plurality of tobacco plug units each hermetically sealed, the plurality of uni s forming a stack :or butt? package, and'outer v9 wrapper. enveloping-the package, and a-car- 7 ton inclosing the package and wrapper, the carton including corrugated board compactly inclosing the package, the inner faces of the carton accommodating the irregularities of the package for the elimination of air spaces or pockets.

12. A package, of plug tobacco comprising a plurality of tobacco plug units each hermetically sealed, the'plurality of 'units forming a stack or butt package, outer wrapping means therefor including a carton inclosing the package, the carton including corrugated board compactly inclosing the package, the inner faces of the carton ac- 0 commodating the irregularities of the package for the elimination of air spaces or pockets. I r

13. The method of packing and preserving plug tobacco, which consists in assembling a plurality of tobacco plugs or cakes in alternation with a plurality of wrapper sheets, the wrapper sheets being. provided with marginal portions, infolding. the marginal portions to overlie the side walls of the tobacco plugs or cakes, the marginal portions of adjacent wrappers being arranged in overlapping relationship whereby a laminated plug package 'is provided.

14. The'method of packing and preserving I plug tobacco, which consists in assembling a plurality of tobacco plugs orcakes in alternation with a plurality of wrapper sheets,

the wrapper sheets being provided with A marginal portions, in folding the marginal portions to overlie the. side walls of .the tobacco plugs or cakes, the marginal portions of adjacent wrappers being arranged in overlapping relationship, and in wax welding the joints between the overlapping marginal portions, whereby a laminated plug package is provided.

15. The method of packing and preserving plug tobacco which consists in assembling a plurality of tobacco plugs or cakes in alternation with a plurality of wrapper sheets, each sheet being provided with an impervious coating such as'wax or paraffin on per sheets in nested relation and alternating with a plurality of layers'of tobacco plugs or cakes, each wrapper sheet containing a plug; a plug and its wrapper forming a unit, in

ing arranged in overlapping relationship,

the joints between the laps being welded, whereby a sealed laminated plug package is provided. V

17 The method of packing and preserving plug tobacco, which consists in-assembling a plurality of pre-formed dishshaped wrappers in nested relation and alternating with a plurality of layers of tobacco plugs or cakes, each wrapper having an impervious coating on the outer walls thereof, each wrapper containing a plug, a plug and its wrapper forming a unit, in interposing a separating sheet between a plug of each unit and a wrapper of theQnext adjacent unit, and in then folding and compacting the marginal laps of the wrapper in compacted and overlying relation on the side walls of the plugs, the marginal laps of adjacent wrappers being arranged in overlapping relationship, the joints between the laps being welded, whereby a sealed laminated plug package is provided.

Signed at New York in the county of New I Yorkand State of New York this 8th day of April A. D. 1921..

JONATHAN PETERSON. 

